Life Skills
Intent
Life Skills lessons and tutor time activities provide pupils with an opportunity to discuss their views, share their opinions and help embed the skills, knowledge and understanding Wigmore High School believes pupils need to be successful in modern day communities in the UK and internationally.
Following responses from student voice questionnaires, meetings, governmental publications and new RSE documentation, our curriculum has been developed to ensure pupils are learning about up to date and relevant world issues and that they are taught the relevant subjects to help them transition into young well-rounded adults.
For Key Stage 3, we deliver PSHE through the Jigsaw programme, a comprehensive and progressive scheme of work that supports pupils' personal development and wellbeing. Jigsaw provides a structured, age-appropriate curriculum that promotes emotional literacy, resilience, healthy relationships, diversity, inclusion and responsible decision-making.
Through the six Jigsaw puzzle pieces:
- Being Me in My World
- Celebrating Difference
- Dreams and Goals
- Healthy Me
- Relationships
- Changing Me
Pupils revisit and deepen key concepts each year, enabling knowledge and skills to be built progressively throughout Key Stage 3.
Our Life Skills curriculum is inclusive, ambitious and responsive to the needs of our pupils. It provides opportunities for discussion, reflection and enquiry, encouraging pupils to think critically, challenge stereotypes and develop empathy for others. Lessons are delivered in a safe, supportive environment where pupils are encouraged to express their views respectfully and confidently.
At Key Stage 4, our Life Skills curriculum builds upon the knowledge, skills and understanding developed through the Jigsaw programme in Key Stage 3. Pupils explore more complex and relevant issues that prepare them for adulthood, further education and employment. Through use of the Jigsaw resources learners develop greater independence, resilience and confidence in managing relationships, health, wellbeing, financial decisions and future career pathways. Our KS4 PSHE curriculum encourages critical thinking, informed decision-making and responsible citizenship, ensuring that pupils leave school equipped to navigate the opportunities and challenges of modern life safely, successfully and with respect for themselves and others.
We also provide specific event days such as ‘Your Impact’ which is delivered by a local organisation. In addition to the above, our Life Skills curriculum is integrated into our tutor time programme which is delivered by form tutors during morning registration. As part of Life Skills and tutor time, pupils also discuss the fundamental British values, as well as our Wigmore values.
Implementation
Pupils have two lessons a fortnight in Year 7, 8 and 9. Our Year 10 pupils have lessons embedded into their curriculum once a fortnight and our Year 11 pupils have this embedded into their tutor-time programme. Our careers programme is also supported by these lessons.
Using the Jigsaw programme, there are recurring themes throughout our long-term plans to ensure topics are sufficiently covered at appropriate levels and that we provide an all-through and broad and balanced education. We also ensure that links are made with local services such as our School Nursing team and West Mercia Police. We constantly review our curriculum and adapt our lessons to help our pupils discover, understand and make sense of local, national and international issues.
A more detailed breakdown of subject content at both Key Stages can be found by looking at the documents provided below.